Citroen cars in India (5)

The Citroen Aircross X is quite unconventional in its design and has a certain appeal. As a product, the Aircross X is fantastic value for money. 

It doesn’t exude the same richness as other mid-size SUVs that are better equipped. Still, it makes up for it with solid fundamentals, such as a brilliant 1.2 turbo petrol engine, comfortable seats, exceptional ride quality, and easy handling. 

It’s pretty fuel-efficient, too. The only worry is the dealer network, which is quite poor and unresponsive, but we hear that after the X models of Citroen have been launched, the dealers are motivated to raise their game as well. This is certainly a car we would recommend, but with the rider that you thoroughly check out the Citroen dealer in your area before you sign the cheque. 

These two cars are very different, so it depends on your preference. The Citroen Basalt X is a natural upgrade from your Polo, offering fantastic ride and handling, a strong 1.2 turbo-petrol engine, and a pleasure to drive. However, compared to the Tata Sierra, the Basalt feels a couple of segments down. 

It is nowhere near as well-equipped, and in fact, the Sierra’s most significant selling point is all the tech on offer, which includes three digital screens for the infotainment system, a top-notch audio system, ADAS features and a lot more. Also, the Sierra is more spacious and solidly built.  Being an SUV, the Sierra is not as agile as the Basalt, but it's still a pleasure to drive and hence overall fits your needs better.
 

If you have back pain, you need a car with well-contoured seats and good lumbar support. In this context, the Mahindra Bolero and Mahindra Bolero Neo are not ideal choices. Their seats are not particularly supportive, and the ride quality is on the firmer side, which may aggravate your discomfort.

Instead, the Citroen Aircross X is a better fit. The latest updates have improved the interior quality, the seats are comfortable, and the ride quality is excellent. 

Its suspension setup does an excellent job of ironing out bad roads, making it a comfortable and back-friendly option.
 

We would lean towards the Citroen C3X Shine with the 1.2 turbo engine and six-speed AT. It's a little above your budget but will suit your needs best as it is extremely comfortable, has a superb suspension and the best powertrain for the price. 

For highway driving, it is the best of all the options you have shortlisted because of the brilliant engine and dynamics. However, we have added that Citroen’s dealer network is not the best, and hence, after-sales service could be a worry. 

If you want to play safe, go for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, it's well equipped, reliable and comes with low-cost maintenance. It’s just that for your budget, you will get the 1.2 petrol mated to an AMT, which is nowhere near as nice to drive as the C3X.
 

The Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger share their turbo-petrol CVT (automatic), which is a smooth yet powerful powertrain option. 

Both cars have been refreshed recently with quite a few upmarket touches. Between the two, the Magnite looks a bit more SUVish and has slightly better cabin ergonomics. 

If you have a Citroen touchpoint nearby, you must check out the C3 Turbo AT. It is a much better car at a more affordable price tag.

There are a plethora of automatic petrol cars available within your budget. Given your monthly travel is just 200-300km, we will give less weightage to fuel economy and more weightage to driving comfort. As we don't know other preferences, here's a shortlist of the best options by body style -  

Hatchback - Hyundai i20 IVT Asta (O), Citroen C3 X Shine AT
Compact sedan - Honda Amaze CVT ZX
Compact SUV - Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT, Renault Kiger Turbo CVT Emotion

Both the Honda Elevate and the Citroen Aircross have a very good ride quality and are powered by responsive engines. 

For your requirements, you would not go wrong with either. However, to quantify between the two, we would rate the Aircross better in terms of ride quality, engine performance and refinement. Thus, we would recommend you pick the Citroen since driving pleasure and ride quality are very important to you. 

However, make sure there is a dealer in your area and in the areas you plan to drive to, as the Citroen network is very sparse at the moment.